Q & A - Big Shot
Currently, the Big Shot utilises two types of dies: steel-ruled and chemically-etched.
Steel-ruled (or Rule-based) Dies
When you think of steel-ruled dies, think of cookie cutters - they both work on the same principle. Steel-ruled dies are made by embedding an elongated razor blade into a hard wood base and then covering that blade with foam for safety. When the die is passed through the Big Shot, the foam is compressed and the blade punches through the material being cut. Because steel-ruled dies use a blade, you can cut through an impressive range of materials as well as several layers of cardstock at one time. Additionally, the dies can also be designed with scoring blades to create fold lines. If you are using a die with scoring lines, it is best to only cut one sheet of cardstock at a time.
Sizzix Steel-Ruled Dies: Originals, Bigz, Bigz XL
Chemically-etched Dies
Unlike steel-ruled dies, chemically-etched dies can cut intricate designs, often creating scored and perforated details. To create these dies, elaborate designs are etched into the metal using chemicals to burn away the unwanted metal. However, these dies and can't cut through as many layers of cardstock or as many different materials as a steel-ruled die. Use only thin materials, and multiple sheets are not recommended.
Sizzix Chemically-etched Dies: Sizzlits, Embosslits
